Bowling aid device



April 15, 1969 J. PETTI BOWLING AID DEVICE Filed Feb. 21, 1966 INVENTOR. JOSEPH PETTI ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,438,630 BOWLING AID DEVICE Joseph Petti, 3 Orient Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211 Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Set. No. 528,711 Int. Cl. A63d 5/00 US. Cl. 273-54 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bowling aid device which includes a palm portion adapted to be strapped to the hand of the bowler and a pivotally adjustable cradle member integral with the palm portion, whereby the bowler may adjust the position of the cradle member relative to a bowling ball in order to impart a desired amount of spin to the ball as it is released.

The present invention relates to a bowling aid device which provides for improved gripping of a bowling ball and improved control of the direction and the amount of spin imparted to a bowling ball as it is released.

Among the more common problems faced by bowlers are those of properly gripping the bowling ball in order more surely to control its direction and the amount of spin imparted to it by the bowler as the ball is released. Both of these factors affect the accuracy of the bowler. The failure to grip the bowling ball properly or the failure to impart the required amount of spin to the bowling ball as it is released will result in an inaccurate roll and consequent lack of enjoyment of the sport by the bowler.

In some cases, an improper grip of the bowling ball or an improper twist of the wrist may be due to a physical handicap of the bowler. Either his bowling hand may be too small, or the bowler may have some physical handicap or may have sustained an injury to his hand or another part of his body.

Oftentimes, the bowlers skill is limited only because of a lack of time or opportunity to participate in the sport often enough. He simply does not have suificient oppor tunity to perfect his ability.

While a proper grip of the bowling ball and proper control of the direction and amount of spin imparted to it affect the accuracy of a particular roll, the bowlers overall skill from roll to roll, or from game to game, is dependent upon his ability consistently to release the ball the proper way. To bowlers, this is known as being in the groove. Individuals who do not participate in the sport regularly or those having physical limitations will find it diificult, if not impossible, to develop a regular and consistently proper release of the bowling ball. The more expert bowlers, on the other hand, every so often fall out of their grooves because of their failure to go through their established movements in a regular and consistent manner.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved bowling aid device to assist bowlers in improving their games.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bowling aid device which provides improved gripping and releasing of a bowling ball.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bowling aid device which has means for controlling the amount of spin imparted to a bowling ball as it is released.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a bowling aid device which assists a bowler in developing his ability to release a bowling ball the same way time after time.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a bowling aid device which permits varying the amount of spin imparted to a bowling ball by simple and quick adjustments.

A bowling aid device constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a palm. portion adapted to engage the palm of a bowler. Secured to the palm portion is a cradle member which has a surface adapted to engage a bowling ball. The cradle member is so secured to the palm portion that its position relative to the palm portion is adjustable. Adjusting means are also provided for changing the position of the cradle member relative to the palm portion and for holding the cradle member at a selected position. The amount of spin imparted to the bowling ball as it is released is dependent upon the selected position of the cradle member. Also included in a wristlet attached to the palm portion which is adapted to embrace the wrist of the bowler. Those portions of the bowling aid device which engage the bowling ball are preferably made of a material which enhances the gripping of the ball.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows, in perspective, a bowling aid device constructed in accordance with the present invention positioned on the hand of a bowler, with a bowling ball shown in phantom;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a diagonal section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a second perspective view of a bowling aid device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, a bowling aid device constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a palm portion 10 adapted to engage the palm of a bowler. The palm portion 10 conforms with the palm of the bowler and extends from the heel of the hand to the bowler around to the knuckle of the index finger. The palm portion 10 is rigid and preferably made of a plastic material.

The palm portion 10 together with a strap 11 extending from one end of the palm portion and a buckle 13 extending from the other end of the palm portion encircle the hand of the bowler. The buckle 13 has a pair of loops 38 and 44 and a lug 42 located between the loops. The strap 11 has a series of holes 40, two of which are shown in FIGURE 4, a selected one of which engages lug 42 as the strap is passed around the hand of the bowler and through the loops 38 and 44 in the manner indicated in FIGURE 2. The size of the hand of the bowler determines which of the holes 40 engages the lug 42. The strap 11 and the buckle 13 are preferably molded integral with the palm portion 10 but are of reduced thickness to render them sufficiently flexible to embrace the back of the hand of the bowler as shown.

A cradle member 12 is adjustably secured to the palm portion 10. The cradle member 12 is hinged to the palm portion 10 along the line 14 located near the center of the palm portion just above the center of the palm of the bowler. Although the palm portion 10 and the cradle member 12 are shown as an integral unit with the required hinging action along line 14 achieved through the flexibility of the material chosen for this unit, it will be apparent that these two parts of the bowling aid device may be made separately and hinged together by a suitable mechanical hinge.

One surface of the cradle member 12 is provided with a recess 15 into which a padding 16 is inserted. The padding 16 is adapted to engage a bowling ball 18 and is preferably made of rubber or a similar material which is provided with grooves, as shown, to enhance the gripping of the bowling ball. The padding 16 is secured in the recess either by means of a press fit or with a suitable adhesive.

The opposite surface of the cradle member 12 is provided with a spherical recess 19 which serves as the socket of a ball and socket joint. The ball 20 of the ball and socket joint is aflixed to one end of a threaded stud 22. The threaded stud 22 passes through a threaded hole 23 in a rotatable disc 24. Positioned adjacent both fiat surfaces of the rotatable disc 24 is a pair of shoulders 26a and 26b secured to the palm portion 10 near that part of the palm portion which engages the heel of the bowlers hand. As shown in the drawing, shoulders 26a and 26b may be made integral with the palm portion 10. The shoulders 26a and 26b prevent translatory movement of the rotatable disc 24 as it is rotated. Thus, upon rotation of the rotatable disc 24, the threaded stud 22 moves along the axis of the disc and causes the cradle member 12, pivoting about the hinged line 14, to change its position relative to the palm portion 10. For one direction of rotation of the rotatable disc 24 the cradle member 12 is drawn downward toward the palm portion 10 to a position such as is illustrated by the dotted lines 12a, while for an opposite direction of rotation of the rotatable disc 24 the cradle member is pushed upward and away from the palm portion 10 to a position such as is illustrated by the dotted lines 12b. As the threaded stud 22 moves along the axis of the rotatable disc 24, the required universal movement is provided by the ball and socket joint. A knob 28, aflixed to the opposite end of the threaded stud 22 from the ball 20, prevents the threaded stud from passing completely through the rotatable disc 24. Once the cradle member 12 is at its desired position, it is held at this position since the rotatable disc 24 is prevented from moving along its axis by the shoulders 26a and 26b and the threaded stud 22 can only move if the rotatable disc is rotated.

A second padding 30, fitted into a circular recess 32 on the palm portion 10, also is provided. The recess 32 is located near that part of the palm portion 10 which engages the bowlers index finger knuckle. The padding 30 also is preferably made of rubber and provided with grooves to enhance the gripping of the bowling ball 18. The padding is secured in the recess 32 either by means of a press fit or with a suitable adhesive.

The bowling aid device shown in the drawing is provided with a wristlet 34 attached to the palm portion 10 and adapted to embrace the wrist of a bowler. The wristlet 34, of generally similar construction to the strap 11 and buckle 13, is secured to the palm portion by means of a rivet 36 which is passed through a tongue extending from a lateral edge of the wristlet. This attachment permits the wristlet 34 to pivot about the axis of the rivet. This freedom of movement of the wristlet 34 with respect to the palm portion 10 is provided because of movement of the hand with respect to the wrist when releasing the bowling ball.

FIGURE 3 shows the details of the rotatable disc 24. The rotatable disc 24 is preferably knurled to facilitate grasping and turning the disc. One face of the rotatable disc 24 is provided with a plurality of numerals which form a scale along the periphery of the disc. The scale is used in setting the position of the cradle member 12, once desirable positions are ascertained. These numerals are used in conjunction with a raised index marker 46 provided on shoulder 26a.

In use, the bowler straps the palm portion 10 to his hand by means of the strap 11 and buckle 13 and wraps the wristlet 34 around his wrist. The bowler adjusts the position of the cradle member 12, from roll to roll if desired, by turning the rotatable disc 24 until he feels that he is gripping the bowling ball properly and imparting the desired amount of spin to the bowling ball as it is released. The particular settings which provide the desired results initially are determined by trial and error. The final desired positions of the cradle member 12 then can be noted by reading the position of the rotatable disc 24 with respect to the index marker 46. Thereafter, because of the scale on the rotatable disc 24, the bowler can set the position to which the cradle member 12 should be moved based upon the positions he previously has determined to be the best for him under various circumstances. For each such circumstance, by checking the position of the rotatable disc 24, the bowler can be sure that his bowling ball will be engaged and released in the same manner roll after roll and game after game. The scale on the rotatable disc 24, besides providing the indication to which the bowler should move the cradle member 12, also facilitates the initial trial and error settings in that the scale provides a reference with which the bowler is better able to judge various trial positions.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling aid device comprising:

a palm portion adapted to engage the palm of a bowler;

a cradle member integral with, and pivotally adjustably secured to, said palm portion and having a surface adapted to engage a bowling ball;

adjusting means for finitely changing the pivotally adjusted position of said cradle member relative to said palm portion and for holding said cradle member at a selected position;

and a wristlet attached to said .palm portion and adapted to embrace the wrist of a bowler.

2. A bowling aid device according to claim 1 wherein the palm portion is rigid and has a strap at one end thereof and a buckle at another end thereof which together with the palm portion encircle the hand of a bowler 3. A bowling aid device comprising:

a rigid palm portion adapted to engage the palm of a bowler and conforming with the palm of a bowler;

a cradle member integral with, and pivotally adjustably secured to, said palm portion and having a first padded surface adapted to engage a bowling ball;

adjusting means for finitely changing the pivotally adjusted position of said cradle member relative to said palm portion and for holding said cradle member at a selected position;

a bearing member secured to said palm portion and having a second padded surface adapted to engage a bowling ball;

and a wristlet attached to said palm portion and adapted to embrace the wrist of a bowler.

4. A bowling aid device according to claim 3 wherein the palm portion extends from the heel of the hand of a bowler to the knuckle of the index finger of the bowler and the cradle member is hinged to the palm portion near that part of the palm portion which is adapted to engage the center of the palm of the bowler and the bearing member is secured to the palm portion near that part of the palm portion adapted to engage the knuckle of the index finger of the bowler.

5. A bowling aid device comprising:

a rigid palm portion conforming with the palm of a bowler and extending from the heel of the hand of the bowler to the knuckle of the index finger of the bowler;

a strap extending from one end of said palm portion;

a buckle extending from a second end of said palm portion;

a cradle member hinged to said palm portion to permit movement of said cradle member and having a first padded surface adapted to engage a bowling ball and the socket of a ball and socket joint in a second surface;

a threaded stud having at one end thereof the ball of said ball and socket joint;

a rotatable disc having a threaded hole through which said stud moves as said disc is rotated; pair of shoulders disposed adjacent both flat surfaces of said disc and fixedly secured to said palm portion to prevent translatory movement of said disc as it is rotated, whereby upon rotation of said disc said threaded stud moves axially to said disc and the position of said cradle member changes relative to said palm portion;

and a Wristlet attached to said palm portion and adapted to embrace the Wrist of a bowler.

6. A bowling aid device according to claim 5 Wherein the rotatable disc is provided with a scale along its periphery which in conjunction with a fixed point on one of the shoulders provides an indication of the po- 2 sition of the disc and the cradle member.

7. A bowling aid device according to claim 5 Where- 8. A bowling aid device according to claim 1 wherein the wristlet is pivotally attached to the palm portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 601,982 4/ 1898 Peirson. 2,700,159 1/1955 Van Denburg. 3,062,546 11/1962 Horton et al. 3,123,832 3/1964- Kubik 2-161 3,333,850 8/1967 Miller.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

A. O. OECHSLE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

